Weve got a loan, why not use that to get a left back in? Seems our biggest need. Lots of cover elsewhere. Ps. GK the other lack of cover but think we will struggle to find a decent sub GK who will fancy coming in not to play.

I thought he was more a Hertha II player than the first team. Wiki says he played sometimes as a sub for Hertha first but mostly Hertha II who were third division. Certainly not an established bundesliga player. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Samba

Agreed. After Wigan I am of the view that Johnson at CLB is terrifying. Out of position, slow, poor distribution, beaten in the air. Think the whole 343 would struggle if we put him in there. Weirdly Johnson did quite well as a CB in a 442, but I think the 343 really exposes his lack of mobility brutally. I'd say our most important player - despite BBD's goals - is probably Wharton. If he goes, we are in the sh*t.

A lot of our best players have come from rubbish leagues (Nelsen, Samba, Rothwell, Pickering, Kaminski, Tugay etc etc ). Wouldn't write it off on that account.

Oh shizzle. Seems a bit shortsighted letting Carter go. Think he could deputy LCB quite well. Hope Wharton stays fit.

DIsagree personally. He's got amazing raw capabilities - pace, trickery, can score from distance and poach, go inside/outside, incredible workrate and pressing. He just needs to develop his decision making really imo. I doubt he will make it in the Premier League, the quality of his sort of player is outrageous, but can see him turning into a top Championship player, one who plays a key role in promotion pushes for us or elsewhere. Even with the signings he will play a key role for us, even if it is to come on with 30 mins left and relentlessly close down.

Yes fair - it's only really in this light the transfer targets make sense. Particularly singing another striker on top of Markandy given our options doesn't really seem sensible. I suppose the alternative explanation is if they see a good player at a good price they will buy them and figure it out later. That approach actually makes quite a lot of sense if you are willing to take time to integrate them into the team. Healey has scored 13 goals in 18 games in league 2 in France, and 2 in 4 in the cup - that's pretty compelling. I think as we've shown getting players from the down the leagues do often turn out to be very good (eg. Rothwell, Pickering), so if we can pick up cheaply and give him some time to integrate then it could be a good shout.

I wonder what will happen if Wharton get's injured again. Without Carter there is no one who can play left of a back three. I'd hope there is a recall option if needed.

I don't know really. If you play based on defence like we do you just need one bit of quality to get you over the line. While not individually consistent between BBD, Buckley, Khadra, Rothwell someone is going to turn up each week. Today it was Rothwell. Also as Nyambe is so muted in an attacking sense Pickering is a very big player for us to provide width and crosses. So when he comes back (or we sign an effective LB backup, or the new RB or JRC make the right side more offensive) we should be a lot better. Today we had absolutely nothing going forward on the flanks (for the second half I saw, presume it was similar first half, heard a stat we didn't make a single cross first half) which really hurt our way of playing. Anyway, as long as the defence continues to be sensational we are going to do well. We have conceded 3 goals in 10 games since Fulham. That is incredible. Any stattos like to figure out the last time we managed that across 10 league games??

Yes but for all of that Cardiff created one chance which Kaminski pulled out a superb save. If you can soak up the pressure experiencing pressure is no problem. In terms of scoring goals if our forwards had picked better final passes we would have scored second half. Cardiff didn't carve us open in the way we did to them on the break. The defence really is the foundation of a football team and we have an outstanding one at this level.

We've got loads of options. RB doesn't really worry me - more LB. Without Pickering we aren't anywhere near as good. Need him back. If I was Tony I would start thinking about how to get another left back / wing back. We have one loan left with the Liverpool lad going back - that's where I would spend it.

Going down to 10, bringing on Ayala, moving Lenihan to right back. Just so solid!!

Ah I stand corrected. Referees been terrible. Apologies to Nyambe!

Cardiff commentators are ridiculous. Teams losing, hardly threatening us, but constantly saying they are the better team. Ridiculous from Nyambe. Getting a card for dissent is totally unacceptable. Feel like we've got the players to close out the win. Don't think I've ever thought that about a Rovers team when we go down to 10.

Officially time to give up I think.... will have to watch back the replay.

Only real alternative would be to give Davenport a crack there. Or maybe JRC?

Feels like getting Glastonbury tickets...

What makes me think that Buckley will thrive in midfield is his fantastic ability to turn and find space. He can do that whereever he is. I can absolutely see him picking the ball up from the defence, ghosting past markers, and picking out players with short and long passes - and getting stuck in when the ball needs winning. I'm sure Bucky in midfield will be given a go when Dack's back as Dack has to ultimately take the "false 9" for the goal threat as you say. And Buckley has to play - so he goes into midfield (he isn't playing right wing back anymore as we now have four - Nyambe, Zeefuik, JRC, Brown). Really looking forward to Buckley, Dack, Rothwell, Khadra, Brereton all linking up. Will be tasty.

I agree - Van Hecke was transferred in from a smallish club in the Netherlands so probably not on that much. Hes only only got a year left on his contract in the summer. Most importantly Brighton have sold a bunch of defenders in the past couple of years and not used him so suggests he probably hasn't got much of a future there. Khadra joined Brighton on a free after release from Dortmund so he may be on modest money, but then he got a new contract from Brighton, but it will only have a year left this summer. If Brighton aren't keen to keep them and counter offer it feels like they might both be within the realms of possibility for us to sign.

In regards to needing midfielders, I can see with Markanday coming in and Dack coming back that Buckley will be freed up to play in midfield. I think he's going to be a real player at centre mid - can tackle, pass, find space, run with the ball, good engine. Wouldn't be suprised if that's his normal role by end of season rotating with Rothwell and Travis.

Can't see how we are signing any more forwards unless 1) Brereton's being sold, 2) theres a view Dack won't be fit enough to play.

Just been having a look at some Markanday videos. Looks like a cross between Khadra and Armstrong. Seems a really exciting player who will fit into our system across any of the front three positions with the quality to drop off and play in a false 9 like Buckley, as well as the pace and trickery to go inside or outside on the wings. Having Brereton, Buckley, Khadra, Dack, Dolan, Markandy and Gallagher all competing for three positions is very tidy indeed!

Think that's the team that will play. Have to say while Edun looks a useful central player on the left he gets caught out. It could disrupt the system quite a lot I think if he can't sort out his defensive positioning.

Wow. Shaping up to be a good window.

Yes Kaminski has been transformational and obviously experinced. I would have agreed with you on CB, but we currently have our best defence since the days of Nelsen and Samba (incidentally both themselves from "lower league" backgrounds) staffed by two kids (Wharton, Van Hecke) and one of our kids who has become senior (Lenihan).